Rory Burns

England batsman Rory Burns believes the West Indies will give the hosts a "stiff test" come next month's eagerly anticipated series.

Stuart Broad took six wickets before Rory Burns' 90 strengthened England's grip on the deciding third Test despite the West Indies avoiding the follow-on at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman feels Rory Burns' gutsy ton has ensured England is not "totally" out of the first Test against New Zealand.

England is bracing up for a "stiff test" in the three-match series against the West Indies next month, according to opener Rory Burns who is wary of the visiting team's potent pace attack.

England lost Rory Burns early and Zak Crawley towards the end of the morning session before reaching 61-2 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against India at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. Captain Joe Root was batting on 12 at the break, having hit Mohammed Siraj for three consecutive boundaries after electing to bat.

Like India skipper Virat Kohli, who was unavailable for the last three Tests in Australia, England opener Rory Burns is also coming back from paternity leave after missing the Sri Lanka series for the birth of his first child.

India's quality pace attack, comprising a world-class operator in Jasprit Bumrah, could prompt the hosts to prepare seamer-friendly pitches instead of the traditional sub-continental spinning tracks in their upcoming Test series against England, feels visiting opener Rory Burns.

England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against India at the M A Chidambaram stadium here on Friday.

Ravichandran Ashwin was steady without being exceptional as he focussed on building bowling workload before the England Test series in his maiden and only appearance for Surrey in an English county championship game against Somerset.

England captain Joe Root on Tuesday backed Jack Leach and Rory Burns to bounce back from dismal Ashes performances, as star all-rounder Ben Stokes declared himself fit to carry the fight to Australia.

England opener Rory Burns has welcomed ECB's initiative to impart anti-racism training to its players after a survey found that the malaise is widespread across the rank and file of English cricket.

New Zealand's Tim Southee took six wickets while England opener Rory Burns hit 132 on his side's way to being bowled out for 275 in the first innings, leaving them trailing the visitors by 103 runs on day four at Lord's on Saturday.

England opener Rory Burns said limits on movement in and out of bio-secure bubbles took a toll on his mental health during the home summer and may restrict his availability for upcoming international tours.

India pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah achieved the unthinkable by first batting England out of the contest and then leaving the hosts in tatters at 67 for 4 at tea on day five of the second Test. Haseeb Hameed's (9) comeback was cut short by Ishant Sharma (2/6 in 4 overs) before the Indian pacer trapped Jonny Bairstow in front at the stroke of tea. Joe Root was unbeaten on 33 at the other end.

Tailender Mark Wood's entertaining 41 helped England to 303 all out in their first innings on the second day of the second and final Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston on Friday. Dan Lawrence, 67 not out overnight, finished unbeaten on 81. Trent Boult, one of six changes to the New Zealand side following last week's drawn series opener at Lord's, led the Blackcaps attack with 4-85 from 29 overs.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes Chris Silverwood could face being replaced as coach if he does not get his decision-making right ahead of the third Ashes Test against Australia starting on Sunday.

Not the fittest cricketer by his own admission, England opener Dom Sibley says the abandoned Sri Lanka tour was a "wake-up call" for him, motivating him to lose 12kg during the Covid-19 lockdown for a more agile and less injury-prone body.

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got one apiece to peg England back to 67 for 2 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against India, here on Friday.

England opening batsman Rory Burns on Thursday said that India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is a hard bowler to plan against, looking at the angle he bowls with.

Premier all-rounder Ben Stokes, pacer Jofra Archer and reserve opener Rory Burns on Saturday had their first training session at the Chepauk after successfully completing six days of hard quarantine, while other members of the squad cleared their second COVID-19 test.

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler will miss next week's fourth Test against India at the Oval because of the expected birth of his second child, team management announced Sunday. This will be the first time Bairstow, who has kept wicket in 48 of his 77 Tests, will be behind the stumps at this level in two years.

Batsmen on both sides are set to face a stiff examination when an England team without Ben Stokes face India in the first Test in Nottingham starting on Wednesday.

Much is being made of what a recalled England bowler James Anderson might conjure up with the pink ball being used in the second Test starting in Adelaide on Thursday, but unless England's batting improves it might make little difference.

Ben Stokes told England fans that "we don't believe we're beaten" and said he felt ready for a big score with the bat, after another tough day at the Ashes on Friday.

England off-spinner Dom Bess rated the wicket of India skipper Virat Kohli as one of the best of his burgeoning career and said his team is in a "great seat" after day three of the first Test with the pitch expected to spin more. Bess impressed in his maiden outing on Indian soil as he got the ball to dip and drift, something that worked for him while outfoxing Kohli (11).

England batsman Zak Crawley said on Wednesday he feels no pressure playing cricket in a bubble and views a possible series win in Sri Lanka as a decisive step towards the Test championship final.

Neil Wagner saw off first-innings century maker Rory Burns as New Zealand pressed for an enterprising win over England in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.

Star all-rounder Ben Stokes on Wednesday returned to the 17-member England squad for the first two Tests against India, along with pacer Ollie Robinson, who was earlier suspended for his seven-year-old racist tweets.

England skipper Joe Root on Monday said that the addition of left-handed batsman Dawid Malan will bolster the top-three of his side and hopefully it will result in a good outcome in the upcoming third Test against India.

Skipper Joe Root batted like a dream while Dawid Malan struck a sublime fifty in his comeback game as England piled misery on India to reach 298 for three at tea on day two of the second Test on Thursday.